304. Every canal enthusiast needs to watch this video
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- Опубліковано 15 лип 2023
- The Canal & River Trust, the charitable organisation tasked with maintaining the navigations of England & Wales, gets a quarter of its budget from a government grant. It's just been announced that grant is going to be cut from 2027 onwards, leaving the CRT with a huge hole in its finances, that needs to be plugged. I sat down with the boss of the CRT and asked what the practical effects of the cut will be and what they - and we - can do to stave it off.
CRT 'Keep Canals Alive' page:
canalrivertrust.org.uk/donate...
DEFRA budget announcement:
www.gov.uk/government/publica...
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Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the UA-cam music library
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Thanks for the interview, David. Hope I didn't botch your questions.
0:00 Intro
2:12 Are the cuts just scaremongering?
3:28 What is this going to mean for the CRT, boaters, and other users if you don't have the money?
5:10 Doesn't the Transport Act of 1968 compel the CRT to keep the waterways open?
7:53 Having known the possible loss in funding for a while, are there worst-case plans to close certain canals?
9:31 Have you made the best possible case for funding?
10:15 Given only 25% of funding comes from the government, should the focus be on generating revenue?
11:26 Ideas from viewers -- Misc funding ideas
14:08 Why not spend from the billion pound reserve?
16:22 Where do massive, unexpected costs come into play?
20:27 Should the restoration groups close down or stop with the threat of closures?
22:25 Was the 'Health and Wellbeing' rebranding the best angle to persuade the government of the canal's value?
27:20 Could you threaten the government with handing the canal management back to them?
28:36 What can users, boaters, anyone else do outside of writing a check to the CRT?
31:32 Outro
No you didn’t…. but he botched some of the answers ⚓️
Imagine if this discussion was about whether maintaining the M1 was a good idea, or any other motorway. Canals and Railway networks and our river networks are the arteries of the country.
Has anyone thought about trying to get the canals designated a world heritage site? Money would come from UNESCO funding. The canals certainly did have a worldwide impact on trade. Just a thought.
Outstanding piece of journalism. Outstanding interviewee. No bullshit questions. No bullshit answers. A solid base from which to try and change the Treasury’s mind. Excellent post. Thank you.
I was thinking the same thing. Both parties of the interview did a very good job.
As someone who was born and raised in a business environment, I found Richard's answers to make perfect sense. Either increase revenue, or cut costs - the basis of any business.
These planned cuts in funding are going to see some of our canals being left unmaintained & unusuable. The CRT work hard as it is to raise funds so that we have all these lovely canals to enjoy, they are beautiful picture perfect & we are exceptionally lucky to have them, they are something to be proud of & the amount of people & animals that rely on them is incredible. Nothing comes for free & the miles & miles of canal waters that are accessable by boat must come at an incredible cost for all the maintenance & repairs. The dedication by the CRT is second to none & they love & care about what they do & it shows. I have a narrow boat & have used the canals before but for the past 7 years I have been moored on The Thames which I love dearly but the Thames is looked after by the Environment Agency who are government funded & quite frankly they are a disgrace, they sold off the river's dredgers so now that important part of the river's maintenance is a thing of the past & the silt levels are quite at a dangerous level now especially for swimmers & billions of litres of raw sewage have been pumped into the river in the past year, which they are every year but this year has been an exception, with the EA having full knowledge of this taking place & being paid by the water companies to do so which is hard to believe but a Thames Water spokesperson told me so in a phone call when I rang to lodge a complaint, in the end I had to get a consumer complaints governing body involved because things got so bad, the plants & greenery all along the water's edge turned black & died, dead fish were everywhere & there was toilet paper & used wet wipes littered all along the river bank's, even a poor swan passing by my boat had toilet paper stuck to it's feathers along it's back & looked a sorry state. Geese & ducks abandoned their nests & disappeared which is so sad. The EA do not maintain the trees or bushes or even any of the towpaths & it is all starting to look like an abandoned mess.The EA are not fit for purpose & are poles apart from the dedication you see from the CRT & the first class results their work produces. I still receive the wonderful CRT newsletter which I love to read, it's always full of positive & interesting story's & of planned events such as boat shows. I was more than happy to sign the recent petition they have running regarding the planned funding cuts & I also wrote to my local MP. I am outraged that the EA receive so much funding when they do very little to safeguard & maintain our National treasure, The Thames River while we have the CRT who are irreplacable & as a Nation we owe our thanks to & they are facing funding cuts!!, totally bonkers!!, talk about unfair. We all need to get behind the CRT & support them & help safeguard the future of our waterways.
Having lived in England,I loved the canals as a child. Fishing,walking,exploring.
I have never forgot the smell.
For everyday Britains the Canal is good for their life.
Im not politicizing this comment - but it sure is refreshing to see someone in some level of power to give real answers and explanations. And respecting and answering davids - sometimes - sharp questions
Much appreciated, cheers
Excellent Journalism! Left the audience informed and reassured. Not a flannel or waffle in sight! Thank you, Gentlemen!
I really felt the administrator gave some realistic and proper answers to David's questions. He seemed well prepared. That is good information to know about the funding issue. I will be keeping an eye on this issue over the next few years as this very relevant public policy area that concerns us all. Those of us not in the UK can use this case as an example.
We noticed that there are many derelict houses and cottages still seemingly owned by the CRT that could be renovated in a rolling programme , they could make excellent holiday let’s .
As an Australian hoping to cruise the canals of England, Scotland, and Wales when I retire, I hope the current and future UK Governments are aware of the potential loss of tourism from cutting funding to the C&RT.
It seems anything to do with British culture and history is being choked out to oblivion in these modern times.
It's the English that has to go, the British are just a political union
And they did it to themselves
Absolutely, it's horrible that such little value to inland waterways is given in the modern age given the historic value and heritage.
I wonder if National Lottery funding was an option?
Yeah, like so many Brits are using the canals. Never read such tripe
Well done David, a great probing interview. A simple QR code on every CRT sign (and God knows there's a lot of them) linking to a donation page might help increase their bloody awful ten year record for recieved donations. We'd vote for you to be next CRT CEO. 👍
Haha I wouldn't do it 🤣
Go David! Proper journalism with clear direct questions and challenging follow ups. I wish journalists on TV worked like this especially with politicians. Extremely well done 👏
Mr Parry gave an excellent interview and I felt he really understand the financial impact that CRT are under. In regard to the billion pound section he really showed his knowledge and understanding of financially managing the waterways. Thank you
Guess that means the canals are going to be merely drawings in a museum from now on. This is the Canal's version of the Beeching Cuts!!!!
David: I just heard you point out the value of overseas visitors to British canal system and you're absolutely right! I live on the west Coast of the US and in May I brought a couple of friends over to England and we rented a canal boat from Shire Cruisers in Sowerby Bridge. We all had a great time thanks to Shire Cruisers and the people on the Calder. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the US for British canals. Keep well, Dave
Good for Richard Parry for agreeing to an interview! He seems a straightforward man, which I think is good. Presumably David had free choice of questions? As usual David was a good interviewer. PS. I'm a liveaboard boater so CRT are an important part of my life.
Entirely free and Richard did not see them in advance.
While this was an excellent interview David, well done, it's Richard's answers and the general demeanor of the CRT in general that put me off ever moving onto the canals.
The CRT hides as it suits them, if it makes their lives easier they're a business, if you have a legal query they are the law, if you want answers they're a charity.
If we compare them to the government, of any party, the CRT have a cushy life. No requirement to be honest, no requirement to turn over information, and no ability to be removed by those whose lives they affect. And now they have the nerve to request help in cementing their power?
The Transport Act of 1968, and his answer, hits the nail on the head. The legal responsibility of the CRT, of which Richard is ultimately responsible, is to keep navigations open. By even floating the possibility of abdicating his primary legal responsibility should result in his immediate removal. He can talk about his ethical responsibility to not break in to the endowment, but if a single navigation is closed while it has a billion in the bank, then the organisation as a whole has fundamentally failed. You'd expect a family in hard times to spend every last penny feeding their children, not letting them starve so as not to risk their university fund. Presumably their favourite child is called "Crick", and all the others can starve...
The answer mentioning ownership was intriguing, the Trust holds the canals in perpetuity? Much like a family home then? Tell me what's to stop a local council, particularly 'dead end' navigations like Erewash, Ashby, Chesterfield or Sheffield, being concerned by his rhetoric and the potential loss of local benefits and hitting their stretches with compulsory purchase orders? Think the current EA/CRT/Peel Ports licensing system is bad? We have no idea of how bad it'll be if Teflon Richard, who despite being in charge seems to take absolutely none of the blame, continues on this path.
Is this the same Richard Parry who earned almost a million quid for less than a year's work at TfL?
quite an insightful comment but sadly i guess it'll be removed because its political
Thanks David for these Professional interviews! Many Compliments!! They are Very Important! You are a vital link between the CRT and the general waterways user / supporter! And I think that Mr. Parry is Gentleman to sit for these interviews!! ❤
The tourist value of the canal network is growing, especially here in the USA. Many of my friends plan on hiring canal boats for their next vacation.
Thanks for the video. National infrastructure, including the canals and associated reservoirs, is a national responsibility. This responsibility sits with the government of the day - if a canal closes or a dam collapses, a Minister needs to lead, to be accountable. This cannot be passed on, however desperate the CEO of the charity is to keep his job. Having seen the awful state of the canals where I grew up (Lower Peak Forest), I have no faith in the CRT to prevent a return to those days. Sadly, the only influence left to the CRT is a high profile resignation and handing back responsibility to the Government. Based on this interview, the loss of their CEO won't be a big deal.
Great interview David. Im a boater and appreciate the facilities CRT provide as well as their challenges in balancing the books, but when I read that this guy is paid with bonuses around £215, 000 a year (and no doubt other senior executives wont be far behind) steam comes out of my ears. Many live aboard boaters struggles to pay the annual licence fee and yet will no doubt see big licence fee hikes. They wont have a £1 billion endowment to draw upon to help finance the extra costs like CRT has either. Maybe this chap will agree to a drop in his collosal salary to show solidarity with those who will struggle as licence fees go up. I also hope to see pigs fly !
Mr Parry's annual income for 2022 was £214,000 ( plus all his mates wages etc)... The prime minister of UK earnt £160,000. And CRT want people to donate money or volunteer their labour..
The canal network is an extraordinary heritage. I'm a full-time boater and every time I move I learn something new about the rural (usually) and urban environment I move through. As I move along there are miles and miles of interest passing me. Yet there are also miles and miles of little to no (usually no) explanation of what there is to see, whether archaeological history, industrial history, social history, or natural history. For example where are the signs/boards near Beeston referring to the magnificent castle, the WWII bunkers, the Iron Lock, and so on? There are so many collaborations possible to enrich the experience of the waterways. It's not my job to but I'm certain I could list tens if not hundreds of such potential collaborations. Where's the creativity in C&RT?
If I'm not mistaken, it sounds like they're looking for ideas. Maybe you could contribute them. I wonder if volunteers could even contribute signs, with appropriate organization and agreement. I'm pretty sure it was a volunteer I saw repainting signs on the Chesterfield Canal a couple of months ago.
Exactly - British builds drove the industrial revolution, afterall. And that has largely laid down the framework of development that we, the world, lives in today.
A good interview. I thought some of the questioning was perhaps a little antagonistic early on, particularly where he was giving full and frank answers. A style usually reserved for politicians offering weasel words. Appreciate some of the questions were from viewers. I hope CRT are able to shift government policy on this.
It should come as no surprise that Richard Parry knows what he is doing. It is gratifying to find that he has the patience to give sensible responses to viewers' observations and suggestions, which he is clearly already aware of.
The sad thing is, the government sounds like it does not understand the beneficial impact the canals provide. They mitigate flooding and temper the local climate, which come in handy when your at the beginning of global weather change.
Useful point
David, a well-done piece, and you were in full journalist mode. I appreciate that he sat down with you, and was able to respond to you for nearly a half hour. Clearly, he has a grasp of his organization. He did speak on the economic impact, which was good to hear. I would think that a full up economic impact study may be money well spent, not only to provide to government, but to other potential funders, to include local government. It would seem to follow that some level of local/CRT partnership would be beneficial to all. Proper economic impact data may help facilitate/foster local partnerships.
A very good interview but this guy is a good subject.
Complex problems ahead when funding is reduced. Fees will be going up in the long term. Well done to shine the light David.
A fine example of counting the cost but not the value.
Stick a QR code on each lock and have it direct to a donations page. Every little helps and volunteer lock operatives can direct those interested in "giving them something for they're help" to.
Great interview as becoming used to David 😊
Leave the endowment alone. It gives £50 million per year every year. Over 10 years, that adds up to £500 million. And that return will continue. Drawing down on the capital gives you money once only then it is gone. Very bad idea. One thing though - it is inevitable that license costs will increase.
Surely damage to bridges should be part of any claim made to an insurance company by the vehicle involved. The same applies to cars in locks etc. The damage is caused by external, non canal users so why should CRT have to foot the bill. I also find it difficult to accept that CRT should be responsible for reservoirs - surely they should be under the pervue of the water authorities and their massive profits. Not going to be a massive amount clawed back but every little helps.
The reservoirs discussed are those that only feed the canal system, not public water supplies.
I came to make the same comment about insurance claims.
The reservoirs they are referring to are not mains water reservoirs, they are holding tanks (if you will) that are only used to replaced water lost over time from the canal network due to many factors, so yes the should be the responsibility of the CRT.
I used to work at the company when it was British Waterways in the 90s to early 2000s. So much work was done to secure funding and eliminate maintenance backlog. It's such a shame to see the canals have a lack of funding and maintenance go down. Plus the government don't remember that it is saving housing costs for those that choose to live in the canal who might otherwise have to get housing help saving them lots of money. So they should be helping to provide funding to help maintain it.
Stop spending more money on some railway upgrade near London.
It is interesting that local groups can find the millions needed to restore a stretch of canal, but not the money to maintain it once it is open.
Maybe we need local groups to take responsibility for the existing network in their area as part of restoration plans. Similar to what the Wildlife Trusts do for conservation areas.
Love the tough questions, impressed by the hard answers. It’s never simple
Richard Perry gave a great interview without any BS. I love how all the internet 'tin foil' hattery can be swept away by an intellectual, calm talker, who has a very good knowledge of the subject.
Even watching 30 minutes saw a family go for a walk, a couple off to the pub, dog walkers, runners all using the Canal. Nice interview David.
David, I appreciate you mentioning your viewership based outside the UK. It IS because of Vloggers like yourself, who promote the Cut, that I found how I'll spend much of the rest of my life: Cruising the Cut... By 2025 I plan on investing nearly $500,000.00 into the UK economy, via vessel construction, and annual expenses like Canal licenses, mooring fee, boat insurance, etc, etc. And I do plan on contributing to the CRT's 'Keep Canals Alive' fund. Keep up the good work. Thanks for reading....Cheerio!
Don't bother eddy the country is getting worse by the day.
The last 5 years funding of British Waterways was spent on 20 new marinas that was apparently an investment for the future.
The canals fell into decline.
BWM becomes a separate entity.
The marinas were sold off and re-leased by BWM ( British waterways marinas ) when the trust took over ! .
Then the trust tell us just give us a few years to organise ourselves .
The canals fell into further decline.
New vehicles came, new work boats, new logo and new signs .
Contractors were hired and managers became many and salaries rose ...
The canals fell into more decline ..
Repairs are repaired by unqualified repairmen / women who have no experience of locks..
I could go on ....
230 grand a year Mr Parry is a good wage for a CEO.
Do the 6 Regional managers earning 170 grand a year need a pa earning 90 to 110 grand a year ?
Do them regional managers need area mangers on 110 grand a year and do we need area managers at all, or mooring managers on 60 grand and license enforcement managers on 80 grand a year ?
All the other managers and so on.
When you add the cost of venues on this with the cost of team building adventures .
The cost of vans sat idling down country lanes ,
The cost of gate ramming instead of using sluices,
The cost of not enforcing the terms and conditions of our boat licenses and just enforcing overstayers and non payers !
The canals even more in decline ..
I wish it wasn't all quite so negative but really it is and it needs great change in its very foundations !
Thankyou, very informative. Who would guess eh!
A new logo and more managers. The MBA brigade is in charge.
Part of the funding solution is walking in the background of your video. In every town or city that canals pass through, there are parks and trails in the form of tow paths that would not be there if not for the canals and are probably used primarily by local residents and tourist that might never set foot on a Narrowboat. The communities could be contributing to the cost of running and maintaining their canals in the form of access fees if you live on the canal, fishing permits, volunteer organizations to help keep the canals clean and silt free and maintenance on locks, pumps and reservoirs.
And, how do you do this? Legally, there's nothing to force a town or city to pay anything to the CRT for having a canal there
The canals are a crucial part of UK life...they actually need so much more expansion and care taken with them. The money invested should be maintained in at least current levels of funding. But reality is, that over a 10 year upcoming period, more money should be invested.
I visited England recently and walked 70 miles along the Grand Union and Avon and Kennet canals with the Ridgeway Trail in between. I had a wonderful time. The canals are beautiful. This video inspired me to donate £15 to the CRT. Thank you.
Having worked for a charity, I know the CEO salary level is an often used, but rarely understood argument. I don't think anybody who gives to a charity, wouldn't rather 100% of their contribution go towards front line expenditure. However, the days of a charity being run by retirees, to give them something to do on a regular basis are long gone.
Even a charity with 100% volunteers, has to be run like a business, just to comply with the raising and spending of funds. Once you employ people, you need payroll and HR. The bookkeeping becomes more involved and becomes a daily job, instead of jotting a few numbers down at the end of the month. Overheads increase, such as office space, insurance, utilities, computers, copiers, etc, etc.. There is also much more work to do around compliance and Charity Commission rules and regulations.
The list of responsibilities is almost endless, and generally speaking, getting anyone to take on those responsibilities for free is impossible. With such a large organisation to manage too, and volunteers having no obligation to turn up for work, the slightest issue could result in the workforce walking out one day and not coming back. So, the charity pays salaries in return for some security, ensuring most people will be working on any given day.
Ultimately - and I do agree that many CEOs are paid well above what should be necessary - the CEO gets the big bucks because the buck stops with them. Also, as charities have had to become more professionally run, the sector has had to look to employing experienced people from the private and public sectors. The only way you'll attract people of the necessary calibre, is to offer at least similar benefits as they would receive or have been receiving elsewhere.
This information and thought process, probably won't change the mind of anyone who doesn't like the idea of their fees and donations contributing towards someone's salary, and that's everyone's right. However, expecting charities to be run entirely by well intentioned senior citizens for free, is really pie in the sky wishful thinking.
The gentleman has been interviewed before on this channel. He is well spoken and listens well. I think he deserves some respect for sure.
Great video David. We have already pestered our MP on this. Love that you are pushing it as well.
My local canal is effectively just an open sewer due to the local water authority.there is SO much wrong with this country that any Government isn’t going to be sympathetic to maintaining Canals which tbf are pretty low on the to do list for any Government.
So back in the day you used to have lock keepers and linesman who used to walk their stretch of the canal if they could fix a problem they would if not it would be repaired within a very short time because it needed to be fixed... Nowadays you get to press one and then whatever number you need between 1 and 5 or whatever and then they will report it to the local team there is a hell of a lot of administration going on.....
Actually that sounds like less administration than it would normally be. An automated system to take reports and complaints and then forward them on to their respective departments or jurisdictions is quite efficient.
Thank you David. A very well laid out informative interview. I just find it hard to believe that in the future and if nothing changes then we could lose quite a bit of the waterways. I always class the British Canals as a living museum and a very important part of our industrial heritage.
Plus the fact that there are so many waterway vlogers this has also put the UK Canal's out to a much wider audience from around the world, who i believe are quite envious of our canal system.
Hopefully over the next Ten years, a solution that would be agreeable with everyone can be achieved.
Once again David, yet another great useful and informative vlog. Cheers Pal.. 🥂🤗
Hi, you are absolutely right. As a Canadian, I love watching the bloggers from the different narrow boats. And all the history that I am learning and seeing all the wonderful things that I get to see. My biological mother is from Birmingham England and I have on my bucket list to visit England and to vacation for a couple weeks on a narrow boat and I find this very sad. I hope that things start to look up
Excellent.. I am sure that when you come over for your holiday on the canal's you will have the most pleasant trip on the canal's first hand..🍻
Well done David... you haven't lost your journalistic touch. Nice to see Hatton (on the Hill) is same as it was few years ago. Back in the early 70s that section (that I used to cycle along many times) was in a poor way. Let's hope it doesn't revert to that level in a decade or two.
Many thanks!
I'm very impressed with the way you interviewed him.
I very much liked the idea of companies large and small sponsoring locks and flights of locks. That would surely be something that could be pursued.
Interesting programme David. And all power to the CRT.
Someone at the CRT should call Fortune Brands Innovations and hit them up for sponsorship. Then you'd have Master Locks.
I'll see myself out
@@arthuralford 🤣
as a pair of boaters who have just jumped from a normal cruising licence,to a floating traders license,i will watch how this goes, with concern and deep interest.
Great interview. The point about new revenue streams was interesting. I've often thought the CRT should offer training. Like helmsman courses, lock operation, radio, boat maintenance etc. Open up more of the network to canal side mooring, proper good quality mooring and lots of it, that you could book for a charge stay longer than two weeks. Essentially turn parts of the system into a large marina's where you can come and go as you please, bit like motorway services.
Cheers
No. Don't want leisure centres, and concrete ugly facilities which atttract people less likely to enjoy canal historical context and natural surroundings.
@@irenejohnston6802 it's got to be a balance of things boaters require and areas CRT can raise revenue. I'm sure it would not be considered the finished article but it gives people something to discuss.
Really enjoyed this interview. I've visited the UK 3 times in the last 10 years. Much time has been spent visiting canals and walking along towpaths. Finding new (to us) pubs along canals is a treat! Even in Scotland, a week in Fort William and a trip to the Falkirk Wheel and The Kelpies were highlights of our visits and kept us close to canals. Hatton Locks is another favorite place to visit along with the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal!
David, your approach to journalism is of the highest quality. 👏 This is sorely missing from so many media outlets these days.
David: that was a brilliant interview with the gentleman from The Canal and River Trust. The canals are very important to all who use them, so they should be taken care off and kept open. Having said that I live across the pond, so all I can do is to message the CRT. Thank you for informing us about the financial situation of the CRT.
The body language and hand gestures says it all for me. I get what he is saying and clearly he hopes he is saying what people want to hear, but there is clearly some deeper digging to be done. I really think your questions were very relevant but there are still so many "if's but's and wherefores" and the devil is in the details. This lovely chap is a very cool and well schooled politician and if I was a waterways leisurist, I would be very worried.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
If they'd skip buying one single fighter jet or a couple of tanks, they could cover that entire funding cut, but there are two things politicians of any party, by and larger, never will cut - military spending or their own salaries & budgets. They always find something that benefit the citizens to cut.
Another idea (that they might already be doing) is charge rent to the communications companies to run a buried fiber optic line under a towpath.
Great interviewing David, very entertaining. Richard is a very eloquent and focussed chap with clear passion for his role and the network. Delightful stuff👏👌
Perhaps the CRT should have mentioned that dredging the Grand Union would take 15 minutes off the journey from Birmingham to London!
Well-done. V informative. As an overseas follower, I think you're rt about leveraging the CRT into British Tourism conversations. ❤
Here’s an idea, let’s make the water ways as important as Buckingham palace and many other touristic attractions in England
Probably one of the best interviews I've seen in a long time. Tough questions, but also honest answers. Fantastic job!
Great interview. Good to see folks really pushed to truly answer the hard questions!
Thank you
what an interview!david,
you are an interviewer the likes we have not seen on tv for a long time.asking informative questions and letting the interviewee give an answer!you could /should get a job on a news channel .gb news comes to mind.well done and thank you from nz soon returning home to uk and the cut.
Idk how I missed this but one of your best videos with very pressing questions. Tks
It’s a very difficult subject….
As boaters we are all well aware how the canals are not maintained as we boaters would like, and that we also feel we pay our share.
But as your introduction states, the canals are a great historic and current attraction to many.
I used to fund raise for the CRT and I can tell you it’s very difficult to get people to part with their money to “use” a facility that they view as entitled to for free.
If a portion of council tax went onto supporting the canals in their area I personally would be happy to pay .
Let’s keep fingers crossed that our fantastic canals can stay open and appreciated by people and governments for years to come…
I think we collectively need to think about why we have governments and governing bodies. Too often we are told to stomach things getting worse for the majority, when does that end? I love my local Canal, it's hugely enriching, and relatively low cost in the scheme of things.
What a great interview. Thank you both of you.
In the last ten years how much has the staff grown?
Historically how has the staff grown to run the trust!
not sure but i'm sure there are a lot more wearing suits and ties these days
They need to get in touch with rick steves and other tour book writers and see if they push Canal holidays in their books.
My father was driver on the LMS railway and a keen fresh water fisherman. After WW2 he and other angling club members would go out in all weather to dredge and clean up the tow paths of local canals. This was before the leisure boating fraternity got going.
David, a tremendous interview. Thank you. I found your interviewee informed and engaging too. Thank you to both. I felt I was reading a quality broadsheet from around 50 years ago.
Sounds like the Govt has completely forgotten that the canal systems across the UK contain water, which in a Climate Change Situation with so many periods of increased heavy rain periods play an important role in managing the environment with "sudden appearance" of increased water flows ie flooding management.... Imagine the damage should the canals not be present in their functioning state as such waterways!
Funny old phrase that, "functioning state"
Well done sir. Straight over the plate and no soft pitches. A true pleasure to watch!
Being a regular UA-cam watcher of various liveaboards - and a lover of narrowboat cruising - I have noticed the vast increase of boaters since Covid first hit us in 2020; both new owners and holidaymakers. Add an increase in cruiser boats which seem to think that the 'rules of the waterways' don't apply to them and narrowboaters who only open one half of the lock (which means bumping the gate that hasn't been opened thereby shortening the period between a costly renewal). All these things add up and no Organisation can cover 2,000 miles of waterways and ensure that all is well; or plan their annual spending and improvements in advance.
A really good interview. Very informative. Hopefully some of the financial decision makers will see it and gain a better understanding of the Canal Trusts needs.
Thank you
Maintenance should not be counted as an investment.... Things like this should always have a maintenance budget.
You are an excellent interviewer. Your questions are pointed and insightful, and certainly are not softball questions.
A really thorough and interesting interview thank you David...
Glad you are helping protect the canals with your channel.
I try...
excellent initiative of David to interview Richard. Thanks.
As a citizen of the 🇺🇲 I think the Canals are a National Treasure for 🇬🇧. I can't think of anything else like it the world. It's the best way to see 🇬🇧 in my opinion 😊. I will let the Trust know my opinion 👍
Interesting interview, thought ur CRT man spoke really well answering all the questions really well.... Take note Politicians..
An excellent video David. That you for asking the tough questions and good on Richard for taking a seat with you to be hearing and answering them. Challenging years ahead. Much thanks to CRT for a lot of work. I am another of those who so desire to cruse the cut after seeing so many of your and others videos. It's gone from something that I had no idea existed, to a must see & do if I ever make that jump across the pond ! Best wishes on Britain maintaining the canals and expanding where you can.
They are a national treasure.
Bravo David.
You asked all the hard questions.
I am in the u.s. and can not holiday in the uk but watch all the vlogers.
You being the godfather of the waterways, i appreciate your tenacity and unwavering loyalty to the canals.
Looking forward to the next interview.
Thank you and God bless !
Thank you David for bringing this to our attention in such a clear and concise way. Please be assured I have already used the CRT website tool to contact my MP. Once again many thanks.😊
What a powerful and informative video! WOW! I am cheering you on from Denver, hoping you can help get this sorted and properly funded for the future. Again - NICE WORK! Very, very impressive!
Apologies if you asked and I missed it, but as a leisure boater my perspective is that CRT has sold off the family silver (ie site freeholds and cable routing) and the cupboard is now bare. Therefore, if we are to avoid a distopian future of dry pounds and un-navigable canals CRT need the regulatory powers to ‘levy’ others who enjoy the amenity of the networK- or will have to use it for water distribution due to lack of investment in reservoirs - if Government funding is to be cut.
Thanks David for your commitment and for the challenging questions that saw the CRT ceo working hard to answer 😅 .
This man has compelling explanations, I think they are well served with him steering the CRT.
I’m sick and tired of unlicenced boats getting away with it. The CRT has removed the reporting mechanism a couple of years ago and the warden patrols are having little to no effect. In fact I question the integrity of some patrols as some boats have been in the same location for months and have never been moved on or marked for further action. What are the marinas and holiday companies saying to the government and the CRT about the funding?
the only seem to patrol the popular bits. I have seen boats whose license clearly ran out months ago, yet they stay in the same spot for months on end, even seen them padlocked to the rings, no CRT notice on them.
Dont judge me as a complete loonatic. But at the moment Saudi Arabia are developing a plan to build a 1 to 200 mile long corerdoor city into the desert and glass dome it all to create it's own atmosphere they want golf courses tennis courts gardens etc etc. Now where are they going to get 1 to 200 miles of Top Soil they can get it by funding the dredging of every canal in Britain and fresh water rivers and probably every canal restoration project ongoing at this time l am just an old age pensioner at 73 but l recon there's a wiz kid out there that could that could manifest this into reality. If it came off it would be Billions 😎😎😎
If there's anybody who deserves to eat tomatoes grown in fairy liquid and spilled diesel...
The dr dgings are contaminated waste, not much use for topsoils
Are you sure about that?
I’m coming from the US to do narrow boating in September because of your UA-cam.
The only problem with generating your own revenue is the government, whoever is in power, on the next round, says cool, you're getting your own money, we'll cut you again. So, the pressure is on again
This is absolutely true.
The governent has no money, they get it from the people and they're skint. Asking for help from the government is like giving yourself a blood transfusion from one arm to the other and spilling half in the process. We're about ready to collapse ,there's been so much help given.
Just like they did during the Beeching era with the railways - then with everything sold off, will then decide 'now we must use taxpayer money to solve the problem', at which point it just funds failed monopolies that wouldn't normally survive in the private sector to wash money down what would be left of the canals & waterways. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Can't see a way of avoiding it other than 'getting political' about it, starting with the unfit for purpose 'modernised' charities law.
I recently wrote to my local MP via the CRT website Keep Canals Alive section regarding the funding issue and I had a very interesting response from Heather Wheeler MP basically saying that she thinks the £400m long-term funding settlement agreed with DEFRA is perfectly acceptable and that the government has no obligations to do this funding so the CRT should be grateful (paraphrasing that). I can see that the current government will not be moved on this funding and it will be up to a new government to look again at it.
Cheers. It seems a lot of the MPs are replying with a stock response reiterating what Defra said
but they have no obligation when the whole point of CRT being separate was for it to be self-sustaining when it became a Trust instead of a wholly-owned government body under British Waterways. It's the CEO's job to ensure that self-sufficiency, which they've failed at by not focusing on their primary responsibility. They've become too big and are taking on things they were never meant to - including those 19 reservoirs. It is not their responsibility to handle things outside of their purview. Petitioning MPs to 'step-in' is only going to convince the government that they were right to abolish British Waterways as it was going to be 'too expensive for the public purse'. There needs to be a new strategy and a new CEO of CRT.
Great interview David, the questions were spot on from you and your subs your guest explained well the ins and outs . Maybe just maybe as an idea , some of the "sirs" over there (ie: Paul, Elton etc) can buck up and help with donations too, god knows they could use a write off. Just my 2 cents🙂
Thanks David, it’s been an eye opener for me.
I’ve often daydreamed about groups of boaters being given the opportunity to maintain certain stretches. Simple things to keep overall maintenance costs down for the CRT. Things like weed & debris removal. Simple garden maintenance for the towpath grass/shrubs ect.
As an incentive- maybe a small reduction in annual license fee.
Its sooooo funny watching British news interviews as an American. David seems like such a nice, reasonable, polite person. Yet, when he put his interviewer hat on, he becomes an absolute SHARK going straight at the uncomfortable reality. Dude doesn't pull any punches! Journalism in Britain seems like a full contact sport compared to American news lol. Good interview.
I thought I was quite gentle 🤣
Watching your videos, there seems a good deal of difference as to how each Council invests and promotes its portion. Your last in London looked like a community that rivals Soho. In the long term, most cities will have to improve their green-water space too. Local action is just as important and councils are much better at lobbying Westminster. Also, England has a complex water management situation, that includes canals, much land still wants to be Fens and marshes.